OUGD405 (Studio Brief 4) Communicate

Collect, Categorise, Communicate (Communicate)

Brief

You are to identify a problem from your individual research and provide an answer to it. You must the resolve this problem in an engaging and interesting way to a specific target audience.

Background / Considerations

Who needs to know? What/ why do they need to know? How will you tell them? You must identify whether you are trying to EXPLAIN, INFORM, INSTRUCT or EDUCATE the audience? What will the audience respond to, where will they look? How will they need to interact with it? How will you know it is working? Will it be a; collection of, a presentation of or instructions to. What is the tone of voice? It must be appropriate to your subject, audience and method of delivery.

To begin my research for this brief, I wanted to look at existing posters that had relation to the music industry, I will also look at leaflets. When researching music for the previous brief, my main interest on the topic was the influences the musical industry has on the consumers. The music industry sucks each and everyone in, and I feel like it would be a good point to raise the idea that not all musical influences can be positive. There are many negative points relating to musical influences, as researched when studying the topic of music. The point of my finished design will be to inform the audience of these negative and positive attitudes towards the music industry. 
When researching existing poster and leaflet designs relating to the music industry, I came across some very interesting minimalism poster designs. I think that this would be a good path to choose when designing my informative poster/leaflet, as the designs are very simple, yet they speak volume. Minimalism is design that is characterised by reducing the elements of design down to the very basics. Minimalist designs consist of the most basic shapes and lines to represent a form. By stripping away noise and emotion, minimalist designers creat art with monochromatic colour schemes and repeat colour schemes and repetitive patterns.

I particularly like this poster, as it is very simple. It is obvious that it is a guitar, but the poster remains very minimal, with both colour and design. 

Final Design

For my final response I have decided to create an a5 leaflet. From looking at minimalistic designs I wanted to create a very simple design, but a design that is recognisable to in relation to music. 

This is my first resolved a5 leaflet, but I think that the text should have a lower opacity, as the background is a lot more subtle than the bold text.

Improved Design

This design is slightly better, as the text is more subtle.

I want this minimalistic design poster to question the audience as to whether all influences of music are positive, as there are many negative aspects to it.

OUGD405 (Studio Brief 3) Final Spreads

Final Designs

Below show my final designs on the InDesign programme,  I have included the facts, opinions and statistics that I felt were most suitable for this set of spreads. The photographs I have included give the audience an insight as to what certain experiences of music would be like. The photographs used have been taken while out at certain events. This version shows the grids and margins used to help me create my document with consistency. My spreads mostly use a vertical two column grid, apart from one page which holds the statistics.

These are the final spreads without the margin and column guides. I am pleased with the overall designs as I like the fun and informal tone. I think the images suggest that the target audience could be those of the younger generation that are interested in music. I wanted to keep my layout designs simple, so they information is not too overwhelming. 

OUGD405 (Studio Brief 3) InDesign Tutorial

For this brief we are required to make our double page spreads on the adobe programme InDesign. I have not really used this adobe programme before, and it is mandatory that we use this programme for this brief, the tutorials we've had so far have been very helpful, here are some of my notes I took during these sessions.

• columns section the pages and act as guides
• the gutter is the space between columns
• the margins are the spaces from the edges
• usually set the bleed at around 3mm 
• the slug area contains the print marks
• when producing a booklet/book we need to set the document to facing pages
• file then place, and the rectangle tool to prepare text frames

Type = fill with placeholder

The red square = overflow indicator

Images

• on InDesign images are referred to as links
• save the InDesign folder in the same place as other folder, and use the whole folder
• right click then edit with to edit an image

Applying colour

• rectangle tool
• colour palette: fill/stroke
• eye dropper tool
• swatches palette

type tool: select text, swatch palette, then apply colour

Image & text

• window - text wrap
• combine text & image
• contour options - alpha channel
• object - text frame options, insert spacing

When printing

• spreads
• setup, landscape
• centre
• marks and bleed

OUGD405 (Studio Brief 3) Developing ideas

Developing on InDesign

To develop my ideas for my double page spreads, I started to sketch ideas. I will produce my five page spread layouts based on the influence of music. My spreads will be an informative booklet addressing the audience with certain knowledge and facts about the influences of music. From my thorough research I have concluded my ideas and decided to make the spreadsheets very general, I want to include the photographs that have been taken while experiencing the benefits of different music genres. 

Sketches

These very brief sketches show my initial plans and designs for the 5 double page spreads. We have to include a selection of of our information from the previous brief, I will choose a few facts, statistics, photos words and opinions out of the 100 we were instructed to collect.

OUGD405 (Studio Brief 3) Page Layout Research

Page layouts within magazines

Page layout designs found in magazines need to offer the reader visual interest. If the layouts don't offer the reader intellectual stimulation and entertainment, the reader will lose interest in the product. The designs must be produced with an effective grid system in order to achieve a successful and consistent design. To get ideas on how I could produce my own double page spread layouts, I have research existing layouts online, but I have also  looked at page layouts in a printed magazine.
These are sone photographs i took of existing page layouts. 

I think the use of image and type with this design works well, the use of colour on the highlighted body copy distinguishes certain parts of the text, enabling the reader to notice it with greater ease. 

Prominent two column vertical layout system

The common grid system used when designing these page layouts is the two column vertical layout. Each of these double page spreads illustrate very effective and consistent examples within the magazine. Throughout the magazine, the designers have kept their style of layout similar, allowing the finished product to achieve the success of maintaining an invariable style. I like the quirky style of this magazine, as it has a young and playful theme within the designs, and the layout designs for each page are linked throughout the whole magazine. The goal to achieve a consistent and logical page layout has definitely been achieved on these examples, some of the designs may not be as clean cut however they all still include the significant elements needed in order to present as a successful page layout. 

This is a good example to use to show how a page with image as the main aspect could be presented. The four column vertical grid layout system is recognisable within this design, and the images that are displayed on this layout indicate the vertical column grid is one way images can be presented effectively. I think the contrast of background colour within the alternate columns is an effective use of colour, as it is aesthetically pleasing because it does not overpower the colours of the photographs. The large number '4' used within the heading is the largest sample of text, along with the masthead (the title of this page) is the main type on this page. The type for this page has been kept minimal, this is because the images need to be the focal point of the page so too much text would draw the readers attention away from the images.

OUGD405 (Studio Brief 3) Page Layout Research

Choosing the right grid and layout system is crucial for the success of your finished design. If you don't keep the layout and grid system consistent it will be impossible to achieve the same look throughout your project consistently, and without a layout grid, graphic elements will not properly work together. 

Examples of page layouts

The designs below show effective examples of page layout designs, in the first design, the focal point is the word in the centre. The page dividers help distinguish differences between each section clearly. With the second design, the main focal point is the 'O' in the centre, this is a good example of a page layout design. The colour scheme of body copy surrounding the focal point directs the readers attention in a systematic order, as we associate matching colours to be part of the same topic. For example if the texts are the same colour, it may suggest to the reader that they are talking about the same point. Colours help the eye distinguish differences more quickly. Overall these are a good set of layout designs, as they are clean cut, the design is not too overpowering, as they direct the readers eye successfully around the page. 

A good example of a layout design I have found, is by the designer Enzo Li Vitoli.

His designs focus on the layout and the typographical elements, making sure that each section of his design is precise and consistent. The simplistic layout design is very effective, and the use of the two column vertical grid allows the designer to produce a clean cut web page design. Even though this design is very simplistic, it is aesthetically pleasing, and the colours work well together. 

Other good examples of clean cut page layout designs are by the modernist designer Neville Brody. Brodys designs include the use of type and imagery. He uses a wide range of visual communication media, his layout designs, especially type are strong, as they get the message across efficiently. When working with page layout designs, it is important that imagery and type do not overpower one another. The type for the mastheads or headings need to be both bold and legible, therefore so it will not overpower the body copy. The colours are also a very significant element to consider when designing page layouts, as they have a major impact, colours can help distinguish the main story from the advertisements. Brodys designs are very effective, they keep the type simple as he uses only few font families to keep his designs consistent. The bottom image displays an interesting use of type and image, even though the image is very dominant within the design, the size of the type balances out the combination.

Below is a series of page layout designs I have found on 'Designspriration' http://designspiration.net/image/3771628676691/

I think that this series of designs below illustrate effective exampled of page layouts. I think the way the designer has used a two column vertical grid system works well for these designs as it keeps them simple considering there is quite a large amount of body copy. The way that the designer has included the imagery within the columns so the columns are prominent works well, as it the overall set of designs show consistency throughout. 

OUGD405 (Studio Brief 2) Grid System Research

Grid Systems

In graphic design, a grid is a structure which is usually two-dimensional, and it is made up of a series of intersecting straight (vertical, horizontal, and angular) or curved guide lines used to structure a content. A grid system is a framework that is supposed to help the graphic designers in the logical and consistent organisation of information on a page. Graphic designers have started to build a rigid and coherent system for page layout. Grid systems are an established tool that is often used by print and web designers to create well structured and balanced designs.

They enable the graphic designer to organise whatever content they are working with consistently onto a page, using any combination of margins, guides, rows and columns. Grid systems are commonly seen in newspaper and magazine layouts with columns of text and images. Grids can also be used across an entire project so that the structure is consistent throughout. The gird will not be noticed once the finished product has been printed, but before print, it enables a consistent design to be produced. When starting a project, using a grid system will help position the elements of your design on a page.

 "The grid system is an aid, not a guarantee. It permits a number of possible uses and each designer can look for a solution appropriate to his personal style. But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice." - Josef Muller-Brockman

• Single column grid - the most simple grid consists of a single column of text surrounded by margins. Layout programmes encourage you to design your page from the outside in. These work well for more simple documents.
• Spreads - books, magazines and newspapers should be designed in spreads (facing pages).
• Multicolumn grid - these provide flexible formats for publications that are more complex, some that integrate text and illustration.

Anatomy of grids: Depending on the content that they will contain, grids vary in size, shape and complexity. However, every grid is made up of the following parts:

1. Margins: The space that separates the content from the edge of the page.
2. Flowlines: Alignments that break the space into horizontal bands.
3. Columns: Vertical divisions of space on a page.
4. Rows: A series of flowlines that create horizontal divisions of space on a page.
5. Gutters: Space that separates rows and columns or two facing pages.
6. Modules: Individual units of space created from intersecting rows and columns.
7. Spatial Zones: Groups of modules that cross multiple rows and columns.

Types of grids:

Rule of thirds

There are several types of grid systems a designer can use. The simplest method is to use the rule of thirds. This consists of dividing a page into thirds with two equally spaced vertical/horizontal lines so that the important compositional elements can be placed along these lines or intersections. This is commonly used in photography. 

Golden ratio

The golden ratio is another popular method (approximately 1.618) for proportioning. The ratio has been studied by mathematicians. It has been used for centuries by architects, artists and book designers for its aesthetically pleasing qualities. 

Baseline grid
A baseline grid is commonly used in publications such as newspapers and magazines, the page is divided into several equal sized columns. This consists of a set of horizontal lines on a page, the baseline of all type sits on this. 

There are two main types of layout within graphic design, vertical and landscape. There are also only two types of grids. One has an even number of columns and one has an odd number. These diagrams below found online present examples of layouts using basic layout grids.

Vertical grids

one column vertical grid

two column vertical grid

three column vertical grid

Landscape grids

one column landscape grid

two column landscape grid

three column landscape grid

four column landscape gird

OUGD405 (Studio brief 3) Page Layout

Studio Brief 03 - Page Layout (InDesign)

Brief

Based upon your given research theme: Use Adobe Indesign to put together 5 double page spreads, one for each the five areas you have researched. 20 FACTS 20 OPINIONS 20 WORDS 20 STATISTICS 20 PHOTOGRAPHS The content should be specific to your own interests in the area you have researched. Your choice of layout, type and size should be informed rather than arbitrary.

Background / Considerations

You should research page layout design and grid systems. You should look at publications including magazines, books, leaflets etc.

For this brief, we are instructed to compile our research from the previous brief, my subject matter being music, and create a 5 double page spread displaying the 20 facts, 20 opinions, 20 words, 20 statistics and 20 photographs that we collected. 

To begin this brief, I will research into existing double page spread layouts, and aso grid systems. Page layouts can be found anywhere, I could look at magazines and leaflets for examples. The compositional features will be a significant part when researching and eventually designing my own layouts.

To correlate with my existing research, I could also look at advertisements within the music industry and how they advertise the specific brands and music labels.